used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A MURDEROUS ASSAULT As Clay had said, it took but a little while for Alex and Case to learn to handle the new motor and they soon became delighted with its simplicity.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “The only bad feature about it is that it has to be cleaned more frequently than a gas engine,” Clay observed.
Alex
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A MURDEROUS ASSAULT As Clay had said, it took but a little while for Alex and Case to learn to handle the new motor and they soon became delighted with its simplicity.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A MURDEROUS ASSAULT As Clay had said, it took but a little while for Alex and Case to learn to handle the new motor and they soon became delighted with its simplicity.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A MURDEROUS ASSAULT As Clay had said, it took but a little while for Alex and Case to learn to handle the new motor and they soon became delighted with its simplicity.
ASSAULTnounUS /əˈsɔːlt/
close fighting during the culmination of a military attack
From this reading A MURDEROUS ASSAULT As Clay had said, it took but a little while for Alex and Case to learn to handle the new motor and they soon became delighted with its simplicity.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It ought to be cleaned thoroughly at least once a week.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading “The only bad feature about it is that it has to be cleaned more frequently than a gas engine,” Clay observed.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “The only bad feature about it is that it has to be cleaned more frequently than a gas engine,” Clay observed.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading A MURDEROUS ASSAULT As Clay had said, it took but a little while for Alex and Case to learn to handle the new motor and they soon became delighted with its simplicity.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading I’ve been thinking that we had ought to make the cleaning of it a new punishment for slang using.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A MURDEROUS ASSAULT As Clay had said, it took but a little while for Alex and Case to learn to handle the new motor and they soon became delighted with its simplicity.
an occurrence of something
From this reading A MURDEROUS ASSAULT As Clay had said, it took but a little while for Alex and Case to learn to handle the new motor and they soon became delighted with its simplicity.
ClaynounUS /kleɪ/
a very fine-grained soil that is plastic when moist but hard when fired
From this reading A MURDEROUS ASSAULT As Clay had said, it took but a little while for Alex and Case to learn to handle the new motor and they soon became delighted with its simplicity.
cleanedverbUS /kliːnd/
past form of “clean” — make clean by removing dirt, filth, or unwanted substances from
From this reading “The only bad feature about it is that it has to be cleaned more frequently than a gas engine,” Clay observed.
cleaningnounUS /ˈkliːnɪŋ/
the act of making something clean
From this reading I’ve been thinking that we had ought to make the cleaning of it a new punishment for slang using.
coatsnounUS /koʊts/
plural of “coat” — an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading “The kerosene soots up the piston and coats the rings and then the motor does not work well.
greatly pleased
From this reading A MURDEROUS ASSAULT As Clay had said, it took but a little while for Alex and Case to learn to handle the new motor and they soon became delighted with its simplicity.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “The kerosene soots up the piston and coats the rings and then the motor does not work well.
motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading “The only bad feature about it is that it has to be cleaned more frequently than a gas engine,” Clay observed.
featurenounUS /ˈfiːtʃər/
a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading “The only bad feature about it is that it has to be cleaned more frequently than a gas engine,” Clay observed.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A MURDEROUS ASSAULT As Clay had said, it took but a little while for Alex and Case to learn to handle the new motor and they soon became delighted with its simplicity.
many times at short intervals
From this reading “The only bad feature about it is that it has to be cleaned more frequently than a gas engine,” Clay observed.
gasnounUS /ɡæs/
the state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by: relatively low density and viscosity
From this reading “The only bad feature about it is that it has to be cleaned more frequently than a gas engine,” Clay observed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A MURDEROUS ASSAULT As Clay had said, it took but a little while for Alex and Case to learn to handle the new motor and they soon became delighted with its simplicity.
be in charge of, act on, or dispose of
From this reading A MURDEROUS ASSAULT As Clay had said, it took but a little while for Alex and Case to learn to handle the new motor and they soon became delighted with its simplicity.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “The only bad feature about it is that it has to be cleaned more frequently than a gas engine,” Clay observed.
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I’ve been thinking that we had ought to make the cleaning of it a new punishment for slang using.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “The only bad feature about it is that it has to be cleaned more frequently than a gas engine,” Clay observed.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A MURDEROUS ASSAULT As Clay had said, it took but a little while for Alex and Case to learn to handle the new motor and they soon became delighted with its simplicity.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading A MURDEROUS ASSAULT As Clay had said, it took but a little while for Alex and Case to learn to handle the new motor and they soon became delighted with its simplicity.
kerosenenounUS /ˈkerəsiːn/
a flammable hydrocarbon oil used as fuel in lamps and heaters
From this reading “The kerosene soots up the piston and coats the rings and then the motor does not work well.
gain knowledge or skills
From this reading A MURDEROUS ASSAULT As Clay had said, it took but a little while for Alex and Case to learn to handle the new motor and they soon became delighted with its simplicity.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading It ought to be cleaned thoroughly at least once a week.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A MURDEROUS ASSAULT As Clay had said, it took but a little while for Alex and Case to learn to handle the new motor and they soon became delighted with its simplicity.
engage in
From this reading I’ve been thinking that we had ought to make the cleaning of it a new punishment for slang using.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading “The only bad feature about it is that it has to be cleaned more frequently than a gas engine,” Clay observed.
motornounUS /ˈmoʊtər/
machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
From this reading A MURDEROUS ASSAULT As Clay had said, it took but a little while for Alex and Case to learn to handle the new motor and they soon became delighted with its simplicity.
MURDEROUSadjectiveUS /ˈmɜːrdərəs/
characteristic of or capable of or having a tendency toward killing another human being
From this reading A MURDEROUS ASSAULT As Clay had said, it took but a little while for Alex and Case to learn to handle the new motor and they soon became delighted with its simplicity.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading A MURDEROUS ASSAULT As Clay had said, it took but a little while for Alex and Case to learn to handle the new motor and they soon became delighted with its simplicity.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “The kerosene soots up the piston and coats the rings and then the motor does not work well.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading “The only bad feature about it is that it has to be cleaned more frequently than a gas engine,” Clay observed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I’ve been thinking that we had ought to make the cleaning of it a new punishment for slang using.
on one occasion
From this reading It ought to be cleaned thoroughly at least once a week.
and nothing more
From this reading “The only bad feature about it is that it has to be cleaned more frequently than a gas engine,” Clay observed.
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading It ought to be cleaned thoroughly at least once a week.
pistonnounUS /ˈpɪstən/
United States neoclassical composer (1894-1976)
From this reading “The kerosene soots up the piston and coats the rings and then the motor does not work well.
the act of punishing
From this reading I’ve been thinking that we had ought to make the cleaning of it a new punishment for slang using.
ringsnounUS /rɪŋz/
gymnastic apparatus consisting of a pair of heavy metal circles (usually covered with leather) suspended by ropes; used for gymnastic exercises
From this reading “The kerosene soots up the piston and coats the rings and then the motor does not work well.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading A MURDEROUS ASSAULT As Clay had said, it took but a little while for Alex and Case to learn to handle the new motor and they soon became delighted with its simplicity.
simplicitynounUS /sɪmˈplɪsəti/
the quality of being simple or uncompounded
From this reading A MURDEROUS ASSAULT As Clay had said, it took but a little while for Alex and Case to learn to handle the new motor and they soon became delighted with its simplicity.
slangverbUS /slæŋ/
use slang or vulgar language
From this reading I’ve been thinking that we had ought to make the cleaning of it a new punishment for slang using.
in the near future
From this reading A MURDEROUS ASSAULT As Clay had said, it took but a little while for Alex and Case to learn to handle the new motor and they soon became delighted with its simplicity.
sootsnounUS /sʊts/
plural of “soot” — a black colloidal substance consisting wholly or principally of amorphous carbon and used to make pigments and ink
From this reading “The kerosene soots up the piston and coats the rings and then the motor does not work well.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading “The only bad feature about it is that it has to be cleaned more frequently than a gas engine,” Clay observed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “The only bad feature about it is that it has to be cleaned more frequently than a gas engine,” Clay observed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A MURDEROUS ASSAULT As Clay had said, it took but a little while for Alex and Case to learn to handle the new motor and they soon became delighted with its simplicity.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading “The kerosene soots up the piston and coats the rings and then the motor does not work well.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A MURDEROUS ASSAULT As Clay had said, it took but a little while for Alex and Case to learn to handle the new motor and they soon became delighted with its simplicity.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading I’ve been thinking that we had ought to make the cleaning of it a new punishment for slang using.
in an exhaustive manner
From this reading It ought to be cleaned thoroughly at least once a week.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A MURDEROUS ASSAULT As Clay had said, it took but a little while for Alex and Case to learn to handle the new motor and they soon became delighted with its simplicity.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading A MURDEROUS ASSAULT As Clay had said, it took but a little while for Alex and Case to learn to handle the new motor and they soon became delighted with its simplicity.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading “The kerosene soots up the piston and coats the rings and then the motor does not work well.
an act that exploits or victimizes someone (treats them unfairly)
From this reading I’ve been thinking that we had ought to make the cleaning of it a new punishment for slang using.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading I’ve been thinking that we had ought to make the cleaning of it a new punishment for slang using.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading It ought to be cleaned thoroughly at least once a week.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading “The kerosene soots up the piston and coats the rings and then the motor does not work well.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading A MURDEROUS ASSAULT As Clay had said, it took but a little while for Alex and Case to learn to handle the new motor and they soon became delighted with its simplicity.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A MURDEROUS ASSAULT As Clay had said, it took but a little while for Alex and Case to learn to handle the new motor and they soon became delighted with its simplicity.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading “The kerosene soots up the piston and coats the rings and then the motor does not work well.
